Dominate Showbiz: Media Tycoon Discovered My Talent-Chapter 81: Surprise Performance
Why would a part-time photographer linger inside a building that had nothing to do with his role on this campus for that long? Charles was beginning to doubt whether that punk was even still inside the building at all.
He took one last irritated drag, then left the cigarette unfinished as he put it out and tossed it into the bin.
Two weeks ago, the police had suspended all investigations on Simo Isota. All evidence against him had been ruled "unclear in connection" or "deliberately planted", and all allegations against him were lifted.
Since then, two journalists working for Kosonen Media companies had been found beaten to death, their bodies dumped in empty alleys, while another had gone missing.
Though the police’s progress had been slow, it wasn’t hard for Charles to deduce that the three incidents might have been Simo’s petty attempts to payback at Kosonen Media, if not threatening other journalists working under them. The man had walked free, but his reputation had inevitably been damaged, and he’d withdrawn from running for president altogether.
If Juho Maley really was one of Simo Isota’s underlings, then that punk would most likely make some risky vengeful moves on a chaotic night like this, especially with so many important figures gathered here tonight, including Max Kosonen.
However, his cursed brother had been by his side the entire night, so he didn’t have to worry about that jerk’s safety just yet.
Still, an uneasy sensation was spreading across his chest, though he couldn’t pinpoint why. He quickly texted back, ordering a thorough sweep around all buildings and tightened security at the gates, then returned to the concert hall before anyone noticed his absence.
Inside, the judges had already gathered back at the long table. When Charles descended the stairs, the MC was already onstage with a small sealed envelope in hand. He stood there with a bright smile, waiting patiently for Charles to join him, since Charles would be the one to announce the winner by tradition.
But as Charles approached, the MC leaned in quickly, moving the mic aside and covering his mouth with the envelope as he whispered urgently into Charles’s ear, "Mr. Kosonen, one of the two final contestants is missing."
Charles’s eyes widened at once, a heartbeat skipping in his chest. Almost instantly, he composed his tightening features, lowering his voice as he asked, "Which one?"
"The blonde one," the MC replied quickly, his voice trembling. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂
Charles took the mic from the MC’s hand without a word. He walked toward the front of the stage in calm, measured steps, leaving the MC frozen behind him, still clueless about what was happening inside his boss’s mind.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Charles addressed the audience coolly, one hand slipping casually into his pocket as if nothing were wrong. "There’s another surprise performance we’ve prepared for you tonight, before we reveal who’s taking home the grand prize. Are you ready to find out what that surprise performance is?"
Murmurs rippled through the crowd, followed by half-excited cheers. At the table, the judges were the most visibly stunned. None of them had been informed of any surprise performance.
It was close to midnight, and after enduring a string of mediocre singers toward the end, all they wanted was the winner announcement, and to go home.
Charles read the mood quickly. His lips curled into a confident smile as he continued:
"I’m sure this surprise performance won’t disappoint, as the performer is one of the most successful artists our label has ever produced. In fact, that artist is sitting inside this very room right now. Ladies and gentlemen, please give a round of applause as we welcome to the stage... Karl Hanski!"
Almost at once, the weary crowd erupted. Shouts and cheers burst through the sea of people, especially the female voices, filling the vast hall as they chanted Karl’s name.
At the long table, no one was more shocked than Karl Hanski himself.
He’d been daydreaming about running onto the stage and lifting Kaija into his arms when Charles announced her name, but his stream of illusions snapped clean in half when he suddenly heard his name slip out of a speech he hadn’t even been listening to.
He jerked his head up toward the stage, staring at Charles in disbelief. Without wasting a second, he shot out of his chair and stormed toward the stage, climbing directly onto the high platform in one clean motion with his 190cm height, without even using the stairs, sending the girls in the audience into another round of wild screams.
"What the fuck, man?! What are you plotting now, huh?" he growled under his breath, hands curling into tight fists so he wouldn’t grab his boss by the lapels in front of everyone.
Charles remained perfectly calm, voice steady as he met Karl’s furious glare head-on. "Just sing some of the songs you always perform on tour, and don’t stop until I come back and tell you to. I’m paying you for this extra set as much as you make in one tour night."
Karl’s brow twitched, his teeth clenching as he snapped back, "I refuse to sing a single word no matter how much you pay me, you hear me? Why are you delaying the announcement?!"
"Because the person who might win tonight is missing," Charles replied, tone unwavering.
All the insults Karl had prepared got stuck in his throat. He knew at once which person Charles meant. His eyes narrowed, his voice stuttering in disbelief, "Kaija? Mis... missing?"
"I have no time to explain to a child like you," Charles dismissed coldly, shoving the mic into Karl’s hand. "Do whatever you need to keep them entertained until I find her." Then he turned on his heel and disappeared backstage without another word.
Left alone onstage, Karl clenched the mic, trying to steady his racing mind. Behind him, cheers and screams kept pouring in, but to him they were nothing but background noise.
He wanted to run after Charles and find his birdie, not stay here singing stupid songs just to distract the audience long enough for them to locate her! He ran a hand down his face in frustration, then pulled out the sunglasses he’d kept in his pocket all this time.
"Kaija Sepala, if I’m gonna obey that old cunning fox, then you better be safe and sound and come out quickly from wherever you’re hiding," he muttered, slipping on the sunglasses before turning toward the audience.
Earlier, when he’d faced Max Kosonen and said those words, that there was only one person sitting above him on this entire campus, he’d been referring to her, not the Charles Kosonen who’d just pressed this distraction role into his hands.
As Karl took over the stage and introduced his "surprise" performance, a malicious, amused smile lit up the face of the other silver-eyed man still seated at the judging table, arms folded squarely in front of his chest.
Turns out, the secret he had come looking for tonight had only just begun to reveal itself.
